Ask Son what the MSM would say about the one who did not respond to lies, taunts, jeers?
Ask Son what does he imagine the headlines would say?
OR
Tell Son if he does not know the answer that the one who tells the most lies and makes the most fun of the other wins the election.
Tell him that the crowd (and reporters) will assume that the one who does not respond to the insults and lies is a coward and less of a man. They will not choose the one who does not respond as their leader.
It may be illogical or irrational, but it is the way the world works. It’s called “politics” and appears every time you have a group of males.
Sometimes the Man gets to be the Father to the Child.

MWB

“The wisdom of youth”? Perhaps.
“Chip off the old block”? Without a doubt. ;-)